Question:
Can any one tell me the surgery times for lap vs. open?

   — 2doOrnot2do (posted on July 12, 2003)

July 11, 2003
My surgeons table time for LAP is about 1.5 hours, sometimes less. Thats with higher BMIs too, my wifes was 1.5 hours starting BMI over 60. Now its true the open might be a bit shorter. But open recovery time is often longer. LAP days in hospital now about a day and a half for my suurgeon. Opens tend to be longer. The reason insuurance is willing to pay for the more expensive LAP surgery is because it saves big bucks on hospital days. Of course all this depends on the skills of your surgeon. Now I picked LAP because my job nvolves LOTS of heavy lifting. Lap incisional hernia risk is near zero according to barb thompsons great book. I had no lifting or other rules after one month and if you look at my profile I walked 1.3 miles one week after surgery. I was back to work part time in just over a week too. For ME LAP was great!
   — bob-haller

July 11, 2003
I had Lap RNY and it took exactly one hour. I think the time on both lap and open is about 1-2 hours typically, from what I have read, barring any complications. Good luck! Cheryl, Lap RNY, 6/2/03 -52 pounds
   — Cheryl M.

July 11, 2003
My Lap took about 3 1/2 hrs.. don't know why it took much longer than the others. my BMI was 53. LapRNY 5/15/03 down 41#
   — KellyJeanB

July 12, 2003
My Lap RNY took 1 hour and 10 minutes.
   — Carol S.

July 12, 2003
My lap rny took 1hr 55mins with Dr. Grant.
   — ROBIN H.

July 12, 2003
Hi there!! I'm at 2 weeks post op (-21lbs.) and I had my RNY open. I was in the OR for 28 minutes. Very fast and quick. I had no complications. Everything went smoothly. My scar is only 3 inches and you can barely see the thin line. I feel I have been very blessed. Good Luck : )
   — Jackie T.

July 12, 2003
My lap RNY took 1 hr. 20 minutes by Dr. Fred Teisinga.
   — Postop_nurse

July 12, 2003
I was RNY open 6-9-03 and it only took 2 hours. He said mine was a textbook case. But another person delayed my operation because of complications and was 4.5 hours. Depends on your physical health inside and if you have had any previous banding, etc. Good luck to you! Then 2 hrs in recovery and in your room after that!
   — who A.

July 12, 2003
I was on the table for 95 minutes for my Laparoscopic RNY on Oct. 9, 2002 at Norwalk (CT) Hospital with Dr. R. Crum. I started with a BMI of more than 61 as I weighed in excess of 500 pounds. Nine months later, I have lost 240 pounds.
   — SteveColarossi

July 12, 2003
Five of us in my family have had lap RNY with Dr. Champion of Atlanta, GA. My surgery was the longest...1 hr. 10 min...due to adhesions from a previous gallbladder surgery. Everyone else's lap RNY took from 50-60 minutes. Times will vary depending on any complications and the expertise and training of the surgeon. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

July 13, 2003
My transected lap RNY took 45 minutes. I was astonished and so were the folks in the waiting room for me--they didn't expect to see the doc for another hour!
   — gamboge

July 13, 2003
Thanks everyone for your help!
   — 2doOrnot2do

Click Here to Return